A state House committee has scheduled a hearing Thursday morning on a bill that would dramatically lower the age at which offenders accused of violent crimes could be certified as adults.

The billl, sponsored by Rep. Torrey Westrom, R-Elbow Lake, would allow a judge to certify children as young as 10 if they are accused of murder, manslaughter, assault, aggravated robbery or sexual conduct.

Under current law, children between the ages of `4 and 17 can be certified as adults.

The hearing on the bill, House File 306, will be held at 10:15 a.m. in Room 10 of the State Office Building in St. Paul.